Pakistan Honeytrapping Operation: Haryana Police have arrested a 31-year-old man, Sunil, for allegedly sharing sensitive information related to the Indian Army and Air Force with Pakistani handlers. The accused, a resident of Sabga village under Saha police station, was taken into custody near Ambala Cantonment bus stand, according to reports.
Alleged Honeytrap Operation
According to reports, investigators revealed that Sunil had been in contact with Pakistani operatives for six to seven months through social media. According to police, he was lured using a fake female Facebook profile and gradually trapped through emotional manipulation, inducement, and alleged blackmail.
Sunil, employed by a private contractor, had regular access to the Air Force Station where he worked as a supervisor on construction projects across multiple military units. Using this access, he allegedly shared confidential details about military unit locations, troop movements, and deployments.
Police have recovered WhatsApp chats and voice call records linking him to Pakistani handlers. His bank account is also being scrutinized for suspicious financial transactions.
Role of Pakistan’s ISI In Honeytrapping
Ambala Crime DSP Virender Kumar stated, “Sunil has been taken on a four-day police remand for further questioning. We are probing whether he acted alone or if others were involved. More disclosures are expected during interrogation.”
Authorities allege that Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), orchestrated the honeytrap. The operation reportedly involved building trust via a fake online identity and subsequently seeking sensitive military information in exchange for favors and money. Security agencies are currently assessing the full extent of the information that may have been compromised.
Honeytrapping – A Growing Threat
Honeytrapping, a tactic involving romantic or sexual manipulation to extract information, is increasingly being used in espionage. Operatives create fabricated relationships, often over months, to gain trust and access confidential data. While the practice is decades old, intelligence agencies, including ISI, continue to use it extensively.
Unlike traditional espionage, many recent cases have occurred entirely in the digital realm, with targets interacting online with operatives posing as women.
Notable Honeytrap Cases in India
Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old YouTuber from Hisar, Haryana, allegedly shared confidential information with ISI handlers.
Satendra Siwal, an employee at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, was detained by Uttar Pradesh ATS in 2024. He was reportedly honey-trapped online by “Pooja Mehra” and persuaded to leak sensitive military information for money.
Nishant Agrawal, an engineer arrested in 2018 for leaking technical data related to the BrahMos missile system.
Baburam Dey, in February 2025, the senior DRDO technical officer at Chandipur, Odisha, was arrested for allegedly leaking missile test secrets to a Pakistani spy. The woman involved had posed as a poor science student interested in research.
Dukka Mallikarjuna Reddy, a contractual employee at DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory, was arrested in June 2022 for allegedly sharing sensitive information with a suspected ISI agent.
Shantimay Rana, an Indian Army soldier arrested in July 2022 for allegedly leaking military information after being honey-trapped by Pakistani agents using fake social media profiles.
Guidelines To Follow Against Honeytrapping
Indian defense forces have reiterated strict guidelines following these incidents. Personnel are advised against using photos in uniform as social media profile pictures, revealing rank, unit names, or locations, and forwarding or storing sensitive information on personal devices. They are also warned to avoid suspicious emails and websites.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
